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Clark holds a unique position with his military credentials in a wartime election in which none of the front-running Democrats served in the military.
John Shinkle

As of Feb. 2, retired Gen. Wesley Clark seemed to be running for president.

"I think we need a president who understands that to project strength and earn respect is to be strong and show respect," he told the Democratic National Committee's Winter Meeting. The meeting was a cattle call at which he spoke along with nine other Democrats who were all actually running, and Clark did seem to be talking about himself.

But in the months since then, any sense of momentum behind his still-undeclared candidacy has seemed to vanish without a trace.

"I haven't said I won't run," Clark told Politico.com. "I think about running every single day."

But in the meantime, he's been acting more like a Democratic Party wise man than a candidate in his own right, to the degree that he's offered private advice in recent weeks to potential rivals. He's spoken in recent weeks to leading presidential candidates, said Clark spokesman Erick Mullen.

"It's a regular dialogue with most of these candidates about war and diplomacy," said Mullen.

And he's also emerged as a possible valuable supporter for Democratic front-runners with no military experience.

"Wesley Clark is an asset and has a lot to offer, and we'd certainly value his support," said Clinton spokesman Phil Singer.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton agreed and said Obama recently spoke with Clark. "Like most Americans, Sen. Obama thinks that Gen. Clark has a wealth of experience in issues of national security," Burton said.

Clark occupies a unique role in the Democratic Party. His military credentials, stretching from service in Vietnam to the position of NATO supreme allied commander during the war in Kosovo, stand out in a wartime election in which none of the front-running Democrats, and only one leading Republican, served in the military.

Clark also has a base of supporters from his own brief, momentarily promising 2004 presidential bid -– though he also has a sizable set of critics within the party. Clark’s feuds with the White House West Wing and the Pentagon -- particularly former Defense Secretary William Cohen -- were legendary during the Kosovo conflict.

In a telephone interview from New York, interrupted briefly by what Clark nonchalantly explained was an electromagnetic pulse, the retired general laid out the details of the advice he's been offering Democrats.

He said he's been dissatisfied with the debate's focus on troop levels.

I'm with you, Didi. DOCTOR Lippenheim, a veteranarian, I presume. J. Ortiz, General Clark is the President my parents have hoped we would have; I encourage you to learn some things about him. General Clark blinks, smiles, leads, and cries. He is by far the most intelligent person I have ever run across, and I attach a recent speech of his for the edification of all. Be forewarned: General Clark does NOT speak in soundbytes, and his reason for being reluctant to announce a presidential candidacy should be interesting to everyone interested in the way our form of government operates. http://securingamerica.com/nod...

I think he would be a great president for the U.S.A, he's the best candidate in this field of elections he know's alot,he's an intellegent and has more experience than Obama or hillary or any other candidate and after all he's a veteran he did a lot for America and he would do alot more for the american citizens, i think America should defenitely vote for Wesley Clark and i know me and my family will vote for him. all the best Clark wish you victory, and let's just say the he'll be an President that americans haven't seen in a long time, vote for Wesley clark

It seems that Ben Smith has only gotten one thing right about General Clark in this snarky 'hit' piece. General Clark is indeed a very wise man. Between implying that former Defense Secretary William Cohen is a Democrat (he's as Republican as Reagan was) and insuinuating that Clark has 'enemies' in the Democratic Party (I guess being the most requested surrogate for Dems in the 06 election cycle doesn't count), Smith, a well-known promoter of the right wing's agenda doesn't do much in the way of homework. Recently, Media Matters reprimanded Ben Smith for calling the other Democrat candidates 'cowards' ( Politico senior political writer Ben Smith asserted that Fox News can "confirm to its viewers that Democrats are ... cowards" - http://mediamatters.org/items/... ). He later claimed that it was a 'joke'. Yeahright, nobody laughed. >Maybe this is meant to be a joke too..... not funny either. Most of America isn't obsessive enough to need to identify with a candidate for President at the moment. Most of these other '08 candidates have been running for President since 2004 while Clark focused on getting a Democratic majority in the House and Senate. Clark has plenty of time to announce his candidacy if he chooses to. The others look less like 'winners' everyday.

BTW, since there's lots and lots of video out there starring General Clark, this meme has certainly proved to be just a smear. You're welcome to watch at http://www.securingamerica.com... I assume even Republicans can count. Updated to address it to the "Dr." upthread.

The best candidate the Dems could put before the country is Al Gore. Governor Bill Richardson has more executive and chief executive experience than the rest of them COMBINED and he would apprear to be an excellent choice, as might Sen Joe Biden. As for the rest of them .... give me a break.

Did anyone else watch the GOP debate, where 8 of the mental dwarves fought over who was the most pro torture, and the one man who has been on the recieving end of torture spoke out? It matters little who gets the Democratic nomination, if it's Clark, Hillary, Obama, or Edwards, they will each do a better, more competent job as the head of state than any of these mental dwarves.

Yes, it's a pity General Clark seems to be missing the boat, but I'll wager he'll become the next SecDef. By the way, I'm surprised to find only one, un-patriotic swiftboat attempt here, but, then again, what else can one expect from a GOP hack?

I can see an Obama/Clark ticket that would be hard to beat. In Clark the Democrats have something the Republicans don't - real military experience and record. That would be refreshing in that the Republican field is full of chickenhawks and weak-on-defense individuals whose only experience in combat involved sticks and shouting 'bang-bang.'

Wes Clark as vice president??? To fill the gaping FP/NS holes in the resumes of the current top-tiers? um, no Wes Clark should be setting policy from the Oval Office. I know the current idols will be needing a pit-bull....but As for this smear piece? nice try mrbenny

I am with you guys that think Clark would be a great choice for Veep or sec state.....And though I think he has no chance at this point in the primaries against such a strong established field...I would have would be very happy to support him for prez.

After years of so so candidates us Dem's sure have a mess of good ones now......Let save our sniping for the enemy.